In the world of Skyrim, where crafting can make the difference between survival and defeat, players often turn to the Fortify Smithing effect to give their weapons and armor a significant edge. Whether you’re facing dragons, Draugr, or deadly bandits, upgrading your gear can make all the difference. Fortify Smithing is a powerful alchemical and enchanting effect that boosts the quality of items you improve at a workbench or grindstone. Understanding which items grant Fortify Smithing and how to use them properly can drastically improve your overall combat effectiveness.
Understanding Fortify Smithing in Skyrim
What Fortify Smithing Does
Fortify Smithing is an effect in Skyrim that increases the effectiveness of improving weapons and armor. This means that when you upgrade a weapon at a grindstone or a piece of armor at a workbench, the bonus from Fortify Smithing will increase the level of improvement. This is essential for creating high-level, legendary-tier gear.
There are two primary ways to apply Fortify Smithing:
- Through apparel that has been enchanted with the Fortify Smithing effect.
- By consuming potions that temporarily enhance your Smithing ability.
To take full advantage of this system, players often combine both methods to achieve maximum improvement levels.
Apparel with Fortify Smithing Enchantments
Pre-Enchanted Gear
Several items found in Skyrim already come with the Fortify Smithing effect, making them especially valuable for players focused on crafting. These items typically include gloves, rings, necklaces, and armor. Here are some notable examples:
- Blacksmith’s Apron: Often found on blacksmith NPCs or in blacksmith shops. Provides a moderate boost to Smithing.
- Silver-Blood Family Ring: A quest reward from the No One Escapes Cidhna Mine quest. Increases Smithing by 15%.
- Notched Pickaxe: Found at the top of the Throat of the World. While technically not a clothing item, it boosts Smithing when equipped.
Custom-Enchanted Gear
With the Enchanting skill and the right enchantments, players can create their own Fortify Smithing gear. Here’s how to make custom items:
- Step 1: Find or disenchant an item with Fortify Smithing to learn the enchantment.
- Step 2: Use an Arcane Enchanter to apply Fortify Smithing to eligible gear: gloves, rings, necklaces, and chest pieces.
- Step 3: Use a Grand Soul Gem or Black Soul Gem for the most powerful effect.
To optimize your crafting session, it’s ideal to wear a full set of four enchanted items (helmet, gloves/bracers, ring, and necklace) with Fortify Smithing when improving gear.
Potions of Fortify Smithing
How to Craft Fortify Smithing Potions
Potions are another effective way to temporarily increase your Smithing skill. They are typically consumed right before you upgrade your items. You can brew your own potions with the right alchemical ingredients and skill level. Common ingredients include:
- Blisterwort
- Glowing Mushroom
- Saber Cat Tooth
- Spriggan Sap
Mixing any combination of these ingredients at an alchemy lab will create a Fortify Smithing potion. The potency of the potion increases based on your Alchemy skill and whether you use perks or alchemical gear that boosts potion strength.
Best Practices for Potions
To get the most from Fortify Smithing potions:
- Level up your Alchemy skill to at least 6070.
- Invest in Alchemy perks such as ‘Benefactor’ and ‘Alchemist.’
- Wear apparel with Fortify Alchemy to enhance potion strength. This includes a hat, gloves, ring, and necklace.
Combining a powerful Fortify Smithing potion with your enchanted Smithing gear ensures that your improvements reach maximum possible levels.
Stacking Fortify Smithing Effects
Combining Potions and Enchanted Gear
One of the most effective strategies to reach the highest damage and defense values is to stack Fortify Smithing from both gear and potions. This method is essential for players pursuing endgame gear builds. Here’s how it works:
- Equip all four items of gear enchanted with Fortify Smithing.
- Drink a Fortify Smithing potion.
- Immediately use a grindstone or workbench to upgrade your weapons or armor.
This temporary boost results in significantly stronger improvements, allowing you to push gear to Legendary quality or higher with the proper perks and base materials.
How to Maximize Fortify Smithing Potential
Skill Synergy
Maximizing the effectiveness of Fortify Smithing involves synergy with other skills:
- Smithing: Naturally, a high Smithing level improves your baseline upgrades.
- Enchanting: Needed for creating powerful Fortify Smithing gear.
- Alchemy: Required to craft potent Fortify Smithing potions.
Some of the most overpowered builds in Skyrim rely on the synergy between these three skills. When done right, players can make gear that far exceeds standard stats, making even the hardest bosses and enemies much easier to handle.
The Fortify Loop (Advanced Players)
For players deep into endgame progression, there’s a method known as the Fortify Restoration loop. While considered borderline exploitative, it involves crafting Fortify Restoration potions that boost the strength of your Fortify Smithing and Alchemy gear, then reapplying enchantments and brewing stronger potions in an exponential loop. Eventually, players can reach extremely high Fortify Smithing values, although this method requires careful timing and preparation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Skipping Soul Quality
Using weak Soul Gems when enchanting gear leads to significantly weaker Fortify Smithing effects. Always use Grand or Black Soul Gems for maximum benefit.
Forgetting to Use Potions
Some players enchant gear but forget to use potions when improving items. This leaves potential upgrades on the table. Always stack both for best results.
Neglecting Alchemy Apparel
To get the strongest Fortify Smithing potions, don’t forget to wear gear with Fortify Alchemy. Without it, your potions will be less effective even with a high Alchemy skill level.
Items with Fortify Smithing are essential tools for any serious Skyrim crafter. Whether you acquire pre-enchanted gear or make your own set through enchanting, combining these items with alchemically brewed Fortify Smithing potions unlocks the full potential of your equipment. This system allows players to push past ordinary limitations and craft gear that truly defines their playstyle whether you’re a warrior, thief, or mage. Mastering Fortify Smithing is not just about numbers; it’s about preparing for any challenge Skyrim can throw at you with the best weapons and armor possible.